A Blessing for a Community of Blessings

 

At the end of the secular year, we encounter numerous lists of all the things that happened in the past year.  For us as Jews, it is all too easy to focus only on the terrible things that have been happening, of which 2024 has held a record number. 

Yet, I’d like to focus on the positives that have occurred for our synagogue.  NSJC in 2024 has accomplished some wonderful things. 

Starting with Israel we have:

-          Contributed to IsraAid as a community.

-          Supported the family of slain Israeli police commander Vadim Bich, HY’D, who was killed responding to the October 7^th attacks.

-          We raised funds to dedicate a Torah mantle in memory of Sgt. Omer Smadja, HY’D, killed in battle in Gaza.  This was part of the worldwide Mizrachi Movement campaign to dedicate mantles in memory of all those killed on October 7^th and in the aftermath.

-          We held a community-wide October 7^th memorial and were joined by our friends at Temple Isaiah and by local leaders.

-          We had a hugely successful drive to collect supplies for the IDF with Temple Isaiah and Terri’s Angels.

In our own community:

-          2024 saw the very successful gala honoring Marcie Platkin, our executive director and Mary Ellen Shouler our bookkeeper.

-          We also had the wonderful Dueling Pianos event this year.

-          Religious school held its second annual Veterans Day program.

-          Sisterhood, Men’s Club, the Seniors, the religious school, membership and others have hosted many programs to bring the community together. 

-          Our Toddler & Me group expanded to meet not just monthly on the first Sunday of the month but also to meet once a month on Shabbat for a Tot Shabbat service conducted by our b’nai mitzvah students. 

Our community is a blessing, and it provides many blessings.  The proper blessing for a community so dedicated to doing good deeds is recorded in the commentary of Rashi.  When the Israelites complete the work on the Mishkan, God’s Tabernacle, we are told that Moses blesses the people.  The Torah does not record his words, but the scholar Rashi provides what he thinks they are.  They are the blessing I gratefully share with all of you for the new secular year ahead:    

Yehi ratzon shetishreh haShechinah b’chol ma’asei yedaichem

 

“May it be the will of God that the Shechinah, the Divine Presence, find a dwelling place in all the work your hands do.”

Even the Greatest Challenges Can Be A Small Price to Pay - Parshat VaYetzei

 

Lately I've been facing a number of difficulties in my life and have even felt despair over them.  Of all the things that have helped, making myself do something nice, good, beneficial, for my family, a congregant, a stranger, has helped me the most.  Not only does it take my mind off it, but it does something more.

In the parshah this week, Jacob arrives to his uncle Laban's.  He falls in love with Rachel.  To marry her, Jacob agrees to work for seven years, and after he is tricked by Laban into marrying Leah instead, forced to work another seven.  

The Torah says the following about this:

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ׃

"So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her." 

When we are working with love in our hearts, even if things are difficult, that feeling, that emotion, allows us to go on.  

When I can think about the happiness or the ease that it will bring to one of my family members by stepping up and doing something for them, or reaching out to anyone in need, there is love in that action.  You help that person, you help yourself, you spread love, and you find that the grip your hardships have on you is loosened.

And maybe you realize the one other thing I have also found.

The commentator, Sforno, about the "seven years" reference, observes, "he considered himself as having struck a good bargain, considering Rachel as worth far more than seven years of his labour."

If we can realize this, our motivation to help others, the sharing of love, and the lessening of the hurt of our troubles is compounded exponentially.  Just think - how lucky am I that I have the opportunity to do this for this other person!  Certainly, we should strive to have this in mind about our loved ones at all times.  But we should think of even the stranger as being as precious to us as Rachel is to Jacob.  How fortunate I can do something for this random person, my troubles are nothing compared to this chance to help.  

I hope you all have Rachels in your life, precious beloved ones, and total strangers.  And more importantly, I hope you act with kindness towards them, even when it's hard.  It may turn out it isn't so bad afterall.  

Shabbat Shalom